Malaysian Restaurant Set To Open On Moody Street

WALTHAM, MA — It looks like the new restaurant featuring Southeast Asian food is set to open on Moody Street. Penang, which has a Boston Chinatown location, is planning to open on Moody Street in the old Tiki House Chinese restaurant space.

The space has sat empty at 569 Moody Street for more than a year. But if you drive down Moody you'll likely see construction happening in the old space. It's unclear just when the restaurant will open, but in September they were approved for a liquor license.

Friends who moved to Waltham pointed the place out to "Peggy" Puah Hoon NG, owner of Boston Chinatown's Penang, who said she'd wanted to expand into the suburbs for a while. The restaurant has a 10 year lease with an option to renew.

The attorney for the restaurant told the licensing commission the spot will mainly serve Malaysian food, desserts and drinks. The Boston Chinatown location serves Malaysian, Thai and Chinese food.

Although the Boston spot has been open since 1996, Hoon NG has run it since 2011 and plans to run the Waltham spot, too.

"We do want to be part of the community," the restaurant's attorney told the licensing board at a liquor license hearing.

On the Boston menu you can find things like Penang Satay Chicken or beef on skewers with peanut sauce for $7.50, a homemade roti canai or "Malaysian all time favorite" crispy style pancake and curry chicken dipping sauce appetizer for $4.50 and Sambal Shrimp for $11.95.

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).